Solar power, Solar panels
Solar power, Solar panels
lindymc |
May 14 2006, 10:47 PM
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#1
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 14-May 06 From: Texas Member No.: 141 |
Does anybody use solar panels to either keep the house battery charged and/or to run a refrigerator in their truck camper? We have an old (1999) truck camper - plain vanilla variety - and like to camp in the wild without hookups. We have considered purchasing some solar panels to keep our battery charged but don't know much about them. Can anybody tell me what size we need? Our TC is a pop-up so having panels on the roof would add weight we don't need or want to have to crank up. Has anybody used the kind of panels that sit on the ground? Any help would be appreciated.
-------------------- 1999 Comfort Camp Truck Camper |
garbinator |
May 21 2008, 04:25 PM
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#2
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Productive Consumer Group: Members Posts: 56 Joined: 7-February 08 Member No.: 2,832 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 3500 GMC Dually 4X4 Crew Cab DuraMax w/6sp variable Allison Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac, Altec power jacks Truck and Camper Setup: Lance Legend 990 fully loaded series, Electric Jacks, Air Bags, heavy duty torsion bar, Titan extend-a-hitch, .357 Mag Marlin Lever Action (Cowboy rifle) for camper defense. Bose Acoustic Wave Machine to Ez the nights away... |
http://www.rversonline.org/ArtInv.html
As I do not spend that much time in my camper I utilize a Honda 2000i for recharging my battery. At Idol, the generator will run for over 15 hours or so. |
bubbacamper |
May 22 2009, 02:02 PM
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#3
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 22-May 09 Member No.: 3,143 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Hornet, so far... Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: '77 chevy 1-ton dually 4 door Type of Tiedowns used: universal bed rail clamps w/turnbuckles Truck and Camper Setup: 1991, 9 1/2 foot Hornet on the above mentioned chevy. |
Here is a very interesting article for solar charging batteries. I plan on using two 6 volt golf cart batteries for more storage.
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago93.html |
LindaH |
May 27 2009, 03:59 PM
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#4
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Group: Members Posts: 57 Joined: 25-January 08 Member No.: 2,829 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Eagle Cap Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually (Cummins engine) Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift w/Fastguns Truck and Camper Setup: Eagle Cap 950, 2 100-watt solar panels, 2 6-volt AGM batteries, 1000-watt pure sine wave inverter, Motosat Executive satellite TV dish, Torklift 5-step Glow Steps. |
We have solar panels on both our fifth wheel and our slide-in truck camper: 4 on the fifth wheel, 2 on the camper.
The solar panels will not *run* your refrigerator...the sole purpose of solar panels is to charge batteries. In order to use the batteries to run AC appliances, you will need a properly sized inverter. However, I would not recommend trying to run a refrigerator on AC using an inverter...it would quickly drain your batteries. When dry camping, run your refrigerator on propane. What size do you need? That depends entirely on how much roof surface you have and what you want to run. Here are a couple of solar educational pages to help you determine your needs: 1) http://www.amsolar.com/education.html 2) http://www.rvsolarelectric.com/ The second site, in particular, has a LOT of good information, including a worksheet you can use to help you figure out how much power you need. Of course, you'll need to strike a happy balance between the room you have to install everything, the price you want to pay for all of it, and the stuff you want to run. |
rockynbritta |
Jun 1 2009, 08:45 PM
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#5
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Group: Members Posts: 4 Joined: 1-June 09 Member No.: 3,156 Favorite Truck Camper(s): thats up in the air right now Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2008 Dodge Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi & 2008 Dodge 2500 Cummins 2wd longbed Type of Tiedowns used: to be determined Truck and Camper Setup: got the truck. getting the truck camper... |
try this
http://www.amsolar.com/index.html i hope to have these folks install our when we get on the road -------------------- AFTER HARVEST 2009 THE GREAT ADVENTURE BEGINS
2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGACAB HEMI 4X4 2008 DODGE RAM 2500 REGCAB CUMMINS 2WD 2005 POLARIS PREDATOR TLD- FOR SALE 2003 POLARIS PREDATOR L- FOR SALE HOUSE FOR SALE OR TRADE FOR TRUCK CAMPER ITS ALL FOR SALE-AND WE'RE HITTIN THE ROAD |
BobC |
Jun 2 2009, 07:52 PM
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#6
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Group: Members Posts: 51 Joined: 13-August 05 Member No.: 2 |
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bkey |
Jun 11 2009, 01:04 PM
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#7
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 7-June 09 Member No.: 3,165 Favorite Truck Camper(s): camper Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: f-350 Type of Tiedowns used: qwik-loads Truck and Camper Setup: f-350 |
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larryjj |
Sep 29 2009, 07:03 PM
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#8
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Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 10-July 08 Member No.: 2,911 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Bigfoot Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F - 350 Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac Truck and Camper Setup: F350. Bigfoot camper c/w happijacs |
I run my entire camper electrical with a 115 watt panel. The only problem is when parked in areas completely covered by tree branches. Not enough sun.
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dwestmodesto |
Dec 9 2009, 12:45 AM
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#9
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Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 9-December 09 Member No.: 3,561 Favorite Truck Camper(s): whatever I can afford Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2004 Dodge 2500 Quadcab 4wd longbed, 1989 Cascade 8.5 camper Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift with happyjac turnbuckles Truck and Camper Setup: Firestone airbags, Rancho 9000XL rear shocks, harbor freight cargo rack back porch, |
QUOTE(lindymc @ May 14 2006, 08:47 PM) Does anybody use solar panels to either keep the house battery charged and/or to run a refrigerator in their truck camper? We have an old (1999) truck camper - plain vanilla variety - and like to camp in the wild without hookups. We have considered purchasing some solar panels to keep our battery charged but don't know much about them. Can anybody tell me what size we need? Our TC is a pop-up so having panels on the roof would add weight we don't need or want to have to crank up. Has anybody used the kind of panels that sit on the ground? Any help would be appreciated. I bought the cheap 60 watt, 3 panel setup that Coleman sells last summer. I have 3.3 acres near the coast of Washington and drycamp there with a 33ft travel trailer for a couple months in summer. 60 watts was enough to extend the time till I had to take a battery to town and charge, but didn't eliminate the need. I will be adding another 60 watts this summer. For the camper, since it will charge batteries when driving, 60 watts might be enough to give you the additional time you need. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11298162 I am thinking of getting 2 more of the kits. One for the roof of our camper, and a 2nd for our travel trailer. |
nawlinscamper |
Jan 12 2010, 01:10 AM
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#10
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Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 12-January 10 Member No.: 3,622 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Toyota Tundra Type of Tiedowns used: none Truck and Camper Setup: none yet |
We sell a variety of solar panels.
I have a good guide here: RV Solar Guide Remember size is everything on a small camper. Our 95 watt solar kit is the most common used on truck campers because its size is so small. 95 Watt Solar Kit This kit is very efficent. Includes brackets, cables, pwm controller, and tie downs. Here is a great install story for Vern who is running an Engel fridge on a pair of 95 watt panels. Solar Camper Attached image(s) -------------------- Camping is a way of life!
Chad from Outside Supply |
johnnystrauss77 |
Nov 12 2011, 12:38 AM
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#11
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 12-November 11 Member No.: 5,708 Favorite Truck Camper(s): oregoan Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: full supoort Type of Tiedowns used: Hapijac Truck and Camper Setup: I have D-350: Air Pressure, heavy engine, Happijac Tiedown |
Well, I have a question to ask , I just bought a 500watt solar panel from a company and want to install it at my house roof but I don’t know how to put all things together but company mechanics helped me in fixing my problem. I want to know how much power it can generate for one day because my work is on computer and I have around 30 computers which absorb a lot of power. Therefore I bought solar panel to reduce some expenses.
Solar Panels Texas |
paultim374 |
Jun 20 2013, 01:04 AM
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#12
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 20-June 13 Member No.: 6,749 Favorite Truck Camper(s): no any Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 Dually 4x4 Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac Truck and Camper Setup: F-350 |
Dear I plan on using two 6 volt golf cart batteries for more storage.
-------------------- Worried about Pass4sure C2010-571 exam & Isilon preparation? We offer up-to-dated University of California, San Diego practice questions and Augusta Technical College
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bela374 |
Jun 22 2013, 05:58 AM
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#13
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Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 22-June 13 Member No.: 6,757 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lamborgini Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 Dually 4x4 Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac Truck and Camper Setup: Happijac Tiedowns |
I would not recommend trying to run a refrigerator on AC using an inverter...it would quickly drain your batteries. When dry camping, run your refrigerator on propane.
-------------------- gadgetssea gadgetssea
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tonymull |
Aug 15 2013, 08:01 AM
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#14
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Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 13-August 13 Member No.: 6,833 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Pastime Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Toyota Tundra 4X4 Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift Truck and Camper Setup: 2008 Tundra 4X4 5.7, Air Bags, Torklift tie downs w/fastguns, 1998 Pastime 850 SD 8.5 foot camper. |
I was recently looking at flexible solar panels. They go on with adhesive so there is no putting holes in the roof, and with new technology they work better in the shade. 150-200W's should be plenty. I think they were Unisolar.
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DonnStpeter |
Apr 4 2014, 05:58 AM
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#15
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 3-April 14 Member No.: 7,503 Favorite Truck Camper(s): toyota Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 Dually 4x4 toyota Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac Truck and Camper Setup: air bags with lance |
QUOTE(lindymc @ May 14 2006, 10:47 PM) Does anybody use solar panels to either keep the house battery charged and/or to run a refrigerator in their truck camper? We have an old (1999) truck camper - plain vanilla variety - and like to camp in the wild without hookups. We have considered purchasing some solar panels to keep our battery charged but don't know much about them. Can anybody tell me what size we need? Our TC is a pop-up so having panels on the roof would add weight we don't need or want to have to crank up. Has anybody used the kind of panels that sit on the ground? Any help would be appreciated. I have been using solar panels for a while and it is very effective power generating system.. Yes initial cost is bit high but in long run you will be able to save plenty of money.. |
hedge |
Apr 4 2014, 04:11 PM
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#16
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Group: Members Posts: 8 Joined: 23-July 12 Member No.: 6,191 Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Ford F350 Type of Tiedowns used: TorkLift Truck and Camper Setup: '12 F350, '13 Adventurer 89RB |
How do the panels handle hail and or ice and snow? Do you need to protect them in the winter somehow?
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rbmack5 |
May 16 2014, 11:49 AM
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#17
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Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 15-May 14 Member No.: 7,573 Favorite Truck Camper(s): ? Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 2500 diesel Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift, homemade Truck and Camper Setup: Dodge 2500 , elkhorn11ft, rancho, torklift |
It's ok to run the frige on gas using solar panel to provide elec for controls .a 100 watt panel is quite a lot you will also need a charge controller to maintain bat and to not discharge at night.look and see what 12volt draw for fridge is more than likely solar panel can run during day then switching to gas for night saving gas.i have a cabin that's totally solar .rob
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